Johannes Zabel from the Preliminary Course by Moholy-Nagy, 1923–1924
Study in Balance

In order to encourage an awareness of aesthetics and the properties of materials, Moholy-Nagy had his preliminary course students construct e.g. studies in balance. In order to avoid creating shadows while photographing, Lucia Moholy placed Zabel’s study in balance on a glass plate. In front of an undefined dark background, the stabilising wires become almost invisible, while an artificial light source literally lights up the elements that float in perfect balance, thereby bringing their spatial impact to the fore.